A devoted family man from the north suburbs who was "larger than life" was flying his teenage daughter and a friend to Florida for spring break when he was killed early this morning during a crash that left the two girls injured, according to family and officials.

"He was a great, great father and a great uncle," said Deirdre Manna, the sister-in-law of Jeffrey Bronken, the 53-year-old man who died in the crash. "He adored his children. He was everyone's favorite uncle."

The crash happened near McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road in Clearwater, Fla., as the single-engine plane was on its way to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport after departing from Chicago, according to a statement released by Pinellas County Sheriff's Police Sgt. David DiSano.

Bronken lived in the 2100 block of Red Oak Drive in Round Lake, according to DiSano. The two 15-year-old girls from Round Lake injured in the crash were identified by police as Katherine Bronken, Jeffrey Bronken's daughter, and Keyana Linbo, of the 100 block of Blue Heron Court.

The Piper PA-28 crashed at 4 a.m., hitting power lines, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board will then use the results of that investigation in determining the probable cause of the crash.

The Piper PA-28, which was manufactured in 1980, is registered to Glass Man Inc. DBA, 3100 Skokie Valley Highway in Highland Park, according to FAA records.

Bronken was an experienced pilot who had his pilot's license for "quite some time," according to his sister-in-law, and the three were headed to Florida for a spring break when the accident happened.

Bronken grew up in Northbrook, graduated from Glenbrook North High School, and went on to Western Illinois University, said Manna. He owned his own glass business and though he was a hard worker, he always took time out for his family.

What Manna will miss most about him is his "larger than life"’ personality. "He was so much fun and always on the go,"’ she said.

"I still can't believe it’s true."

The Bronken family has been shattered by tragedy before, according to a statement from Grant Community High School Supt. Christine A. Sefcik, where the two freshman girls who survived the accident, are "very active, involved student athletes."' They both play softball at Grant.

A "tragic" snowmobiling accident had claimed the life of the family's older daughter, Christine, Sefcik said; that accident was in December 2009. A scholarship was established at the school in memory of Christine, who was a Grant graduate.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to both the Bronken and Linbo families," Sefcik said in e-mailed statement. The school is "ready to provide whatever support is necessary to help both families, our students, and our staff through this incredibly difficult time," Sefcik said.

A neighbor who answered the phone at the Bronken home this morning said the injured girls are Jeffrey Bronken's daughter and one of her schoolmates. The neighbor said the Bronken girl's mother is on her way to Florida.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area of McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road. The investigation will be going on for several more hours, according to the statement.